REI to Open First Manhattan Store

Location in historic Puck Building
Posted November 18, 2011

Outdoor apparel retailer REI Inc. (Seattle) expects to open its first New York store at the Puck Building in SoHo next week.

The three-level 36,000-square-foot space features 17-foot ceilings and cast-iron columns, reports Women’s Wear Daily. Paint is stripped down to expose the original brick of the building. Furnishings are constructed of restored pine wood, while maps and large photos are hung throughout the space.

“The natural materials we used to create the store tie into the REI aesthetic and represent the brand much better than you could with a logo,” says Alex Shapleigh, design principle for Seattle-based Callison, which designed the store, in a WWD article.

REI operates 122 stores in the U.S.